Hybrid maize plantations begin on optimistic note
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 28, 2011:
After successful winter harvest of maize in 2010, cultivated under Accelerated Maize Development Programme of the Ministry of Agriculture, plantation of High Quality Protein Maize-I (HQPM-I) and hybrid PAC 740 varieties of maize has begun in the agricultural fields of Mayang Imphal Thana Wangkhei Leikai.
It is said that HQPM-I and PAC 740 varieties of rice can be harvested during the intervening months of winter and summer.
Maize varieties cultivated today would be ready for harvest in the first half of May.
In addition to Mayang Imphal Thana Wangkhei Leikai, it is being planned to cultivate these two varieties of maize in Mayang Imphal, Yumnam Huidrom and Top Siphai too.
On the other, plantation of HQPM-I would be taken up in 100 hectares on trial basis.
Under the same initiative, PAC 740 variety of maize would be cultivated in around 5000 hectares.
Accelerated Maize Development programme in-charge L Ibomcha said that they are planning to distribute seeds of these two varieties of maize to farmers free of cost within the month of February.
HQPM-I can yield 62 quintals per hectare whereas PAC 740 variety of maize can yield 7 metric tonnes per hectare, Ibomcha said.
Significantly, HQPM-I is the first and only maize variety which contains two types amino acids, namely lysine and tryptophan.